the evolution of a plan

While we're waiting for the bank to finish their work, I though I'd talk about how we got here to begin with.
Way back in 2008 or so, when we first started this project, we developed a wishlist of our dream home.

all on one level - no stairs
open floor plan
3 bedrooms for resale value
a large fitness/media room with a seperate powder room and entrance for the pilates studio
lots of light
nice, big master bed/bath
laundry/storage/doggie space
energy efficient, preferably radiant heat flooring and SIP panels

Not too much, right? We started going to home shows and scoping out contractors and their work. We found a contractor and a plan we liked, but it just didn't work out, so we shelved it and waited.

For the second time around, we knew we couldn't use the original plan. It was too big, and it also "belonged" to the original contractor. Off to the internet to search.
After many hours of looking at plans, I finally found one I liked and that I felt could be modified to fit the bill.










Seperate entrance, big room in the front that could be bigger, single floor, nice layout, but just not quite there.

Through our contractor, we found Diane, house designer extraordinaire. She took the original, all my scribbles, our wishlist, and came up with this......












If you squint and turn it sideways, you can see some of the "bones" of the original.
We have a pretty solid idea of what we want, Diane added some pretty cool tidbits, as well as the contractor, and this is the final plan. The kitchen may still change a bit, but we won't make any other changes. It's been engineered, looked over, and now, it's being prepared to turn into the city for the wait for building permits.

The outside evolved as well. For a long time, I've wanted a labyrinth. It's kind of the whole thought behind Pathway Pilates. I also want to be able to share it with my clients and friends, and, really, have it be a focal point of our landscaping. We also HATE grass. To the point of not wanting, really, any in our new yard.
The landscape designer started with this. (without the labyrinth in the front, and with a long sidewalk to the street, GRASS! NO!, and not enough parking)












After a bit of scritching around on it, I came up with this:
labyrinth in the front, no grass, lots of flowers and interest. Love it!.
I'll meet with her tomorrow to finalize the hardscaping and talk about plants (unless the snow gets in the way). This one IS an evolution, as are most gardens.
I can hardly wait to get to work on both!